Barely 24 hours after Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom, rejigged the security apparatus of the state to tackle growing violent crimes and insecurity few days to Christmas, the state command of the Nigeria Police Force has been cracking down on criminal gangs within Uyo Metropolis.
The governor, on Thursday, donated 30 patrol trucks to security agencies in the state and reactivated the popular Joint Security Task Force as rapid response to quell the crime wave which is threatening the peace and tranquility of the State.
While receiving the vehicles on behalf of heads of security agencies in the state, the commissioner of police, Andrew Amiengheme, thanked the governor for being sensitive to the plight of the people and for supporting them to deliver on their mandate.
Subsequently, the police swung into immediately, conducting precision strikes at strategic locations.
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Tactical teams of force, relying on credible information, planned a painstaking operation to “weed out criminals” and armed gangs who have been making the state capital unsafe.
“These hideouts are believed to be part of the nest hibernating some of the hoodlums responsible for Wednesday night’s breach of peace within Uyo,” Odiko Macon, spokesman of the police in the state.
“The Police have so far arrested a total of 40 suspected armed robbers and cultists.”
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The statement further revealed that items recovered from some of the gangs were two locally made pistols, five cutlasses, a bag of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and others which will be as a exhibits during prosecution.
Odiko said upon interrogation, suspects claimed to be part of cult groups responsible for recent cult related murder and robberies within Uyo Metropolis.
He said a discreet investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the culpability of the suspects after which they will be charged to court.
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